Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
ISLA
Everything I thought I knew about Hendrix is being clouded as I watch him talk to Juliet. A woman who, I learned on the drive here, has Alzheimer’s and is practically the only family Hendrix and his sister have.
It makes me wonder if his sister ever comes to see her. Or maybe she doesn’t know she’s even sick.
Juliet seems to be losing touch with things little by little, but when we first got here, I wouldn’t have even guessed that she had Alzheimer’s.
But as the minutes turn to over an hour, she slips into a confused state of mind.
It’s sad to watch because it’s more than obvious that this woman means everything to Hendrix.
Add in another side to Hendrix that I’ve seen—loving.
“I think it’s probably time for you to take your nap, Juliet,” he says, helping her from the chair toward the bed. “I can tell all this company has made you sleepy.”
“What do you think I am, an old lady?” Juliet says, but she slowly sits down on the bed. Glancing at me, she raises her eyebrows. “Now, you’d better make sure my boy brings you back here. You’re the first girl he’s ever introduced me to.”
I try to hide my surprise, but then I remind myself that this woman has Alzheimer’s. She’s not going to remember every single girl Hendrix has brought around over the years. I’m sure he’s brought a lot around. He’s Hendrix Hunt, and women practically throw themselves at him.
“Oh, I’ll be back to visit,” I tell her, knowing it’s probably not true.
I enjoyed meeting her today though. She’s been so sweet and funny too.
Hendrix gets her all tucked in and leans down to hug her.
“Can you please tell Lilly that I want to see her?” she whispers, her voice thick with concern. “I’m worried that something is wrong.”
Even though his back is to me, I can feel the pain radiating from his body. I don’t know much, but I know his sister means a lot to him. And I know he’s wondering where she is, too, I’m sure.
“Lilly is okay. Everything is all right,” he assures her before giving her one last hug, and she stares up at him, still smiling.
She pats his back weakly as he hugs her, and when he pulls back, she looks up at him, studying his face.
“You’re a nice boy—you know that?” She pauses. “Do you work here?”
And just like that … the woman who is like a grandmother to him is gone.
His shoulders sag slightly, but he works hard not to show his disappointment.
I’m not sure if he’s hiding it from her or both of us to see though.
Whichever it is, seeing this side of Hendrix, the one that isn’t tough as nails, it makes me understand him a little bit more.
“No, ma’am. I just came to visit you,” he says sweetly. “You have a great rest, Juliet.”
When he stands, walking toward me, I want nothing more than to pull him in for a big hug. But … I don’t because that isn’t the type of relationship we have. Hell, we barely even know each other. I don’t want to be overbearing. So, instead, I give him a sympathetic smile and wave goodbye to Juliet.
But I decide right then that I’m not going to force him to rush back to campus so that I can make it to class.
I’m sure, for him, seeing her in this nursing home is hard. And hearing her ask for Lilly must have been painful. So, if I can help to make his day a little better, that’s what I’m going to do.
Because for some reason … I suddenly care.
At one of the lowest times of my life, he was there to help me through it. And now, I think it’s time for me to return the favor.
HENDRIX
We get into my truck, and I’m a little nervous to look over at Isla.
She just saw a side of me that no one besides Juliet, who won’t remember, and the nurses there have seen.
But the biggest deal of the day isn’t that I let her come with me, but that she actually wanted to.
Most of the time, I think she may hate me, but not today.
Today … she’s looking at me differently.
Finally, I dare to glance her way. “Fuck, I didn’t mean to make you so late to your afternoon class,” I say, looking at the clock. “I’ll get you back as soon as I can though. You should make at least the last bit of class.”
“That’s okay,” she says instantly. “I can log in online tonight and look at the assignments and catch up.” She shrugs bashfully. “We’re already away from campus for the day … might as well make the most of it?”
I lean forward on the wheel, staring at her, clearly intrigued.
“What are you saying, Nineteen?” I drawl. “You wanna spend the day with me?”
Her eyes roll, and for some reason, I fucking love it when she does that while she’s smiling.
It’s almost like an impulse thing when she’s around me, like she can’t help herself.
We haven’t talked about what happened the other night in the parking lot, but I also haven’t wanted to push her to talk about it if she doesn’t want to. I just hope it happens again …
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head too much,” she teases. “Let’s just drive and see what we find?” She glances out the window, across the parking lot. “If anything, we’ll be able to see some pretty New England foliage.”
A smirk tugs at my lips. “Oh, Isla Hardy is one of those leaf-peeping freaks, huh?” I cock my head to the side. “You probably drive around every October just to look at the leaves, don’t you?”
“So what if I do?” she tosses back playfully. “Oh, and I need food at some point. I’m freaking starving.”
I eye her over for a bit longer, unable to help my grin from growing before I nod.
“I know just the place.” I jerk my chin up toward her seat belt. “Buckle up, babe.”
It’s crazy because back when we saw each other at the hockey camp, I couldn’t stand her.
I thought she was a brat who had lucked out, hitting the jackpot in the stepdad lottery, and had been given everything she could ever want.
And then I saw her in the field house that day when her biological father walked in and looked through her like she wasn’t even there.
That was the first moment I really saw Isla for Isla.
And ever since then—ever since I helped her through that panic attack—she’s been all I can see.
Now she’s not looking at me like I’m a monster anymore, but the truth is, I am a monster.
And eventually, I’m going to need to be honest with her about it.
But once she learns the truth about my past, she’ll never look at me the same. So, for now … I’m keeping my skeletons locked away in my closet. Because I can’t lose this girl before she’s really mine.
Slowly, I pull out of my parking spot and head toward our next destination, unable to stop glancing at my passenger every now and then because she looks so fucking good in my truck.
“Okay, I must admit that this was a good choice,” Isla says, finishing her milkshake before sitting back in the booth and patting her stomach. “But I was starving, and I definitely ate way too much food, so now you’re going to need to roll me to the truck.”
“I won’t roll you, but I’ll gladly throw you over my shoulder,” I drawl, winking because she should know by now that I would be honored to throw her ass over my shoulder and carry her on outta here. Truly.
Watching her put down a double cheeseburger, fries, and a milkshake made my whole fucking day.
Oh … and the pickle. Can’t forget her eating that nasty thing. Or when she pointed to mine when it was the only thing on my plate and asked me if I was going to eat it, and then she ate mine too.
The girl likes pickles, apparently. Hopefully one day soon, I can give her the pickle in my fucking pants.
When the waitress comes by with the bill, I pull out my debit card and hand it to her before she even has a chance to set it down on the table, not wanting Isla to get any ideas of paying it.
“I could have gotten that,” she says, keeping a hand on her stomach. “But thank you for lunch.”
“Thanks for coming with me,” I say. “I kinda enjoy watching you eat like it’s a competition.” I grin, knowing I’d likely lose if it was a competition between her and me. “It’s probably the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Her cheeks redden just as the waitress slides the receipt and my card down, along with a pen.
“Have a great day,” she says, smiling at both of us before she takes off.
“You too,” Isla calls behind her before narrowing her eyes at me. “It’s rude to talk about how much a woman eats, FYI. Just in case you want advice for future chicks you take out, don’t comment on how much they do or don’t eat.”
“But I sure do enjoy watching you destroy a huge-ass cheeseburger,” I say honestly. “Also, cut it out. I don’t need future advice for any women, remember? Because you’re going to fall in love with me, and we’re going to live happily ever after.”
This time, her eyes roll clear up to the ceiling.
“Does that actually work?” She finally looks at me, lifting a brow. “Because I have to tell you, it’s not going to work on me. Maybe it’s worked on your past conquests, but not this time, Hunt.”
“I’m not sure.” I shrug, leaning back slightly against the booth. “But we’ll just see about that, won’t we? I can be quite persuasive, Nineteen. You’ll see.”
“I’m sure you can,” she utters, shaking her head slightly. “All right, let’s get out of here before I change my mind about dessert and go look at the pie or something.”
“I told you to get one—”
She holds her hand up before sliding out of the booth. “God, no. I’m already going to have to run an extra two miles tomorrow just to work off that burger.” Standing up, she holds her hand out. “Come on. Time to go.”
She may mean it in a funny way, like I need help out of the booth or something, but when my hand takes hers, I swear my fucking flesh catches on fire. And I can’t help the satisfied grin that spreads across my lips when I can tell by the look on her face that hers does the same thing.